Application Steps

1. Stay Organized!

Create a spreadsheet to keep track of each step in the application process

Use your phone to set deadline alerts!

2. Update the list of colleges where you intend to apply (in "Colleges I'm thinking About" in Naviance).

3. Find out what type of application each college uses.

Many colleges use their own online applications. You will register and set up an account in order to apply.

Over 700 colleges use the Common Application which allows students to fill out one application for multiple schools. For more information about the Common Application visit http://www.commonapp.org/.

Note: If you are only applying to one Common App school, check if the school has its own application, which would be less time-consuming.

Four colleges use the Coalition Application exclusively: Virginia Tech, University of Maryland, University of Washington and University of Florida. If you are applying to one of these colleges, you must use the Coalition app at http://www.coalitionforcollegeaccess.org/

4. Determine the Application Decision Plan you will use.

Application Decision Plans

Priority (Non-binding)

Colleges use priority deadlines to encourage students to apply early for best consideration in admission, scholarships, Honors College admission and sometimes housing. Common schools that use priority deadlines include:

Early Action (Non-binding)

Students apply early (typically in November) and receive a decision well in advance of the institution’s regular decision response date (typically in December).

Early Decision (Binding)

Students make a commitment to attend their first-choice school where, if admitted, they will definitely enroll. Students must withdraw all other applications if they are admitted. You must discuss this binding option with your parents, counselor and college counselor. A few colleges offer a second Early Decision deadline called EDII.

Restrictive Early Action, or sometimes called Single-Choice Early Action (Non-binding)

Students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision early. They may be restricted from applying ED, EA, or REA to other institutions. If offered admission, students still have until May 1 to make a final decision on where to enroll.

Rolling Admissions (Non-binding)

With this option, colleges review the application as soon as it is complete and return an admission decision right away.

Regular Decision (Non-binding)

Students submit an application by a specific date and receive a decision in a clearly stated period of time. Most regular decision deadlines are January 1 or later.

5. Request a transcript and meet with your counselor.

You will receive detailed information on how to request transcripts and letters of recommendation in mandatory Naviance training for seniors which is scheduled after the Senior Assembly.

6. If needed, request a teacher letter of recommendation.

Check application requirements for each of your colleges to verify you need a letter of recommendation. Most colleges do not require teacher letters, but, if they do, they usually only need one.

Always talk with your teacher in person before formally requesting their letter in Naviance.

7. Order test scores to be sent to each college as requested.

If you listed colleges to receive scores when registering for the tests, scores will be sent automatically. Sending to additional colleges requires your action.

ACT and ACT with Writing Scores

For ACT tests, students can request that only selected scores be sent, rather than all scores, except for the very few colleges that require you to send all scores.

SAT and SAT Subject Test Scores

College Board allows Score Choice (select which scores you want to send to a college) or you can choose to send all scores. Be certain you know testing requirements for each college before you send scores. A few highly-selective colleges require you to send all scores.

8. Prepare for possible college interviews

Interviews are required by very few colleges and when they occur they provide a first-hand opportunity to meet with an admissions officer on a college campus or with a campus alumnus near your home.

9. Financial Aid Forms, Net-Price Calculators

For a detailed explanation of college costs, funding strategies, and funding sources, see Paying for College.

10. Mid-Year Grade Report in January

Colleges may require you to send an additional transcript after the first semester of the senior year. This is especially true for the colleges that use the Common Application, however other colleges may request this information as well, especially if they are waiting to make a decision on your admission based on your academic performance during the fall semester.

You will receive more information about sending mid-year reports at the end of first semester of senior year.

11. Record Your Final College Decisions on Naviance.

When you receive a decision from a college, return to Naviance and update the status with your acceptance result (Accepted, Waitlisted, Deferred, Denied). Libertyville High School collects this information to help future students assess their college opportunities through comparisons and scattergrams, as you did when you were compiling your initial college list. Your personal information remains confidential and only anonymous statistical data is displayed to other users.